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ROYAL Mail is to make a major change to fees within days as shoppers face a surcharge this Christmas.

The service has revealed that business account customers will be asked to pay an additional peak surcharge of 5p for letters and 10p for parcels.

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This will come into force on November 18 and end on January 10, 2025 – the peak time for Christmas deliveries.

While the surcharge won’t be charged to directly to consumers, there are concerns that they will end up footing the bill anyway as businesses look to up their prices to cover the extra cost.

Sarah Coles, personal finance analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “At a time when rising prices have eaten into profits, some companies will feel they have no alternative but to pass the costs on.

“It means shoppers being clobbered with extra delivery charges at a horribly expensive time of year.”

The same surcharge was added to letters and parcels for the first time last year.

The 5p peak surcharge is applied to Royal Mail 24 and Royal Mail 48 large letters, Royal Mail Tracked 24 and Royal Mail Tracked 48 letterboxable products sent by business account holders.

While the following products will be hit with a 10p peak surcharge:

• Royal Mail 24
• Royal Mail 48 Parcels
• Royal Mail Tracked 24
• Royal Mail Tracked 48 Parcels
• Royal Mail Tracked Returns
• Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9am, 1pm and end of the day Sunday
• Special Delivery Guaranteed Returns

A Royal Mail spokesperson said: “The peak surcharge only applies to business customers for the Christmas period and was introduced last year.

“It applies an additional charge to certain business parcel products for a limited period to reflect the increased demand and capacity needed to handle increased volumes.

“Other parcel carriers apply a similar surcharge. Christmas is our busiest time of the year and we invest in around 16,000 additional staff, more vehicles and temporary sites to increase our capacity to handle double the normal volumes of parcels.”

It comes after Royal Mail upped the price of first-class stamps by 30p to £1.65 at the start of October.

First class stamp prices increased by 10p to £1.35 in April and by 10p to 85p for second class.

Royal Mail said it had tried to keep price increases as low as possible in the face of declining letter volumes, and inflationary pressures.

More Royal Mail changes

In October, Postal regulator Ofcom said that Royal Mail could be allowed to drop Saturday deliveries for second class letters under an overhaul of the service.

Regulator Ofcom, which has been consulting on the future of the universal postal service since January, said it is now focusing efforts on changes to the second class service while keeping first class deliveries six days a week.

Under the plans being considered, second class deliveries would not be made on Saturdays and would only be on alternate weekdays, but delivery times would remain unchanged at up to three working days.

Ofcom said no decision had been made and it continues to review the changes, with aims to publish a consultation in early 2025 and make a decision in the summer of next year.

Royal Mail said letter volumes have fallen from 20billion in 2004/5 to around 6.7billion a year in 2023/4, so the average household now receives four letters a week, compared to 14 a decade ago.

Royal Mail also ousted old-style stamps and replaced them with barcoded ones last July.

The business said the move would make letters more secure.

Anyone who still has these old-style stamps and uses them may have to pay a surcharge.

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Your guide to what the 2024 US election means for Washington and the world

Donald Trump has nominated vocal vaccine sceptic and former Democrat Robert F Kennedy Jr as head of the US Department of Health and Human Services, the latest in a series of controversial picks for top cabinet jobs.

The appointment will put Kennedy, who sowed doubts about Covid-19 vaccines and has been critical of the pharmaceutical industry, in charge of a department with a $1.8tn budget with wide-ranging influence over drug regulation and public health.

Trump said in a statement on Thursday that he was “thrilled” to appoint Kennedy to the role. “For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health,” the president-elect wrote in social media post.

As head of HHS, with oversight of agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Protection, Trump said Kennedy would “restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!”

This is a developing story

STATE pensioners are eligible to claim up to £350 in cash to help cover the cost of energy bills this winter.

The Suffolk Community Foundation has launched the 14th year of its annual Surviving Winter appeal, which is in response to winter fuel payments being slashed.

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Previously, the winter fuel payment was paid to all pensioners to help with energy bills.

However, in July, the government said it would only be made to those on low incomes who received certain benefits.

Chancellor Rachel Reeve’s decision to means-test the up to £300 cash boost has meant around 10million elderly people can no longer get the support. 

Now only those receiving pension credit will receive the handout.

The Suffolk charity said it’s campaign has become even more relevant this year because ninety per cent of pensioners are estimated to lose the winter fuel payment.

It added that the government’s policy change also means the organisation cannot rely on those who do not need the payment to consider donating it to help others.

According to the appeal’s website, the campaign has raised more than £1.5 million so far, and the charity is appealing to anyone who feels able to donate to consider doing so.

£175 could be used to help someone pay for gas or electricity, whereas £350 could provide 500 litres of heating oil.

It adds that the fund has provided a lifeline for many thousands of people by helping them to stay safe and healthy in their own homes as the weather turns colder.

How can I apply for the scheme?

You may apply for support if you are over the age of 66 and are not on pension credit.

You must also live in Suffolk, have maximum savings of £5,000 and a maximum income of £20,000, or £24,000 if you’re a couple.

Three charity partners are working with Suffolk Community Foundation to manage the applications and payments; East Suffolk Citizens Advice, Sudbury and South Suffolk Citizens Advice and Gatehouse Caring.

Individuals wishing to apply should get in contact with the office of the district or borough they live in.

What other cost of living payments are available?

Plenty of councils across the country are offering extra support to pensioners in light of the missing Winter Fuel Payment.

For example, Salford City Council has £2.7million of cash to give to struggling people this winter.

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett said the funding will help the most vulnerable and anyone who is struggling financially should get in touch.

It will not be paid in cash but in vouchers which residents can use for food or fuel.

Residents do not need to be in receipt of benefits to apply. You can apply by visiting: https://contactus.salford.gov.uk/?formtype=HSF.

You can also call the helpline 0800 011 3998.

The current economic climate is seeing more charities step in to fill the gap left by a lack of support from the Government and statutory services. 

For those living with cancer, Macmillan’s Financial Grants Scheme was established to help support those who are struggling to cover essential living costs.

So anyone living with cancer and who needs help with bills and other essentials can apply for the grant.

It’s worth up to £350 and is a one-off payment and can be used to help with things like:

• Energy bills
• Home adaptions
• The cost of travel to and from hospital
• Any extra costs you might have because of cancer

It is means-tested, so you must have no more than £6,000 in savings for a household of one person or no more than £8,000 for a household of two or more people.

You must have a weekly income of no more than £323 per week for a household of one person or no more than £442 per week for a household of two or more people.

Benefits like personal independence payments (PIP), disability living allowance (DLA) or attendance allowance (AA) do not count towards income for this.

To apply you can call 0808 808 00 00 or you can speak to one of your healthcare team, like a district nurse or Macmillan nurse, care professional or benefits adviser who can fill in the form with you online.

The British Legion has also set up a Cost of Living grant, which can be applied for here using the Lightning Reach portal.

You can also find out what grants may be available to you using Turn2Us’s grant search on the charity website.

There is a huge range of grants available for different people – including those who are bereaved, disabled, unemployed, redundant, ill, a carer, veteran, young person or old person.

How has the Household Support Fund evolved?

The Household Support Fund was first launched in October 2021 to help Brits pay their way through winter amid the cost of living crisis.

Councils up and down the country got a slice of the £421million funding available to dish out to Brits in need.

It was then extended in the 2022 Spring Budget and for a second time in October 2022 to help those on the lowest incomes with the rising cost of living.

The DWP then confirmed a third extension of the scheme through to March 31, 2024.

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Former chancellor Jeremy Hunt extended the HSF for the fourth time while delivering his Spring Budget on March 6, 2024.

In September 2024, the Government announced a fifth extension.

What is the Household Support Fund?

You may also be eligible for up to £500 worth of cost of living payments from the government’s Household Support Fund (HSF) which is worth £421 million in total.

It’s available to support those who are struggling to afford household basics including food, energy, wider essentials, and exceptional costs.

The fund has been split up between councils in England who are in charge of distributing their allocation.

It was set up in 2021, however, it has been extended by the UK government a number of times. 

How much you are eligible for is usually based on what benefits you already receive and your financial circumstances. 

To be eligible for help, you usually have to be in receipt of a council tax reduction or show proof of being in financial difficulty.

Each council has a different application process – so you’ll have to ask your local authority or find out via your council’s website.

To find out how to contact your local authority, use the gov.uk authority tool checker.

In the last round of funding, some residents received their share automatically, while others had to apply.

For example, Haringey London Council is issuing automatic payments to eligible residents, as well as a support fund which can be applied to.

It is also issuing payments to schools, which means they can distribute free school vouchers.

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THE tallest rollercoaster in the world has confirmed it will be closing down.

Kingda Ka, at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, is the world’s tallest at 456 feet tall.

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However, the theme park has confirmed that the ride would be closing as it “has been surpassed by modern advancements”.

Having opened in 2005, it was also the fastest rollercoaster with top speeds of 128mph although this has since been beaten.

Park spokesperson Mark Villari Jr. told Theme Park Tribune: “What was cutting-edge roller coaster technology 20 years ago has been surpassed by more modern advancements.

“This has challenged operations and contributed to an inconsistent guest experience.”

In its place, the park said a new ride will replace it which will be a “multi-world-record-breaking launch roller coaster”.

Also replacing the Green Lantern rollercoaster, it will open in 2026.

The park’s president Brian Bacica said in a statement: “We understand that saying goodbye to beloved rides can be difficult, and we appreciate our guests’ passion.

“These changes are an important part of our growth and dedication to delivering exceptional new experiences.

“We look forward to sharing more details next summer.”

Also opening at the park is The Flash: Vertical Velocity, which will be “North America’s first super boomerang coaster” when it opens next year.

Last year, Kingda Ka was forced to temporarily close because of a cable snap mid ride.

While no one was hurt, the ride was evacuated and shut down.

Despite its top speeds, it dropped to the second fastest rollercoaster in the world after Formula Rossa opened in Abu Dhabi in 2010.

However, Kingda Ka is only one of two stratacoasters in the world – a ride that has drops of at least 400 feet.

Passengers endure a steep 90 degree climb before plummeting down the other side.

A much-loved UK theme park has also been forced to close.

Flambards Theme Park in Cornwall confirmed earlier this month that it would be shutting permanently.

Use these tips on your next theme park trip

Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out.

1. Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens.
2. Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer – this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest.
3. Download the park’s app to track which rides have the shortest queues.
4. Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out “birthday badges” that can get you freebies.
5. If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return.

The park cited “rising costs and a steady decline in visitor numbers”.

We’ve also rounded up videos of the other fastest rollercoasters in the world.

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The Federal Trade Commission is preparing to launch an investigation into anti-competitive practices at Microsoft’s cloud computing business, as the US regulator continues to pursue Big Tech in the final weeks of Joe Biden’s presidency.

The FTC is examining allegations that Microsoft is abusing its market power in productivity software by imposing punitive licensing terms to prevent customers from moving their data from its Azure cloud service to competitors’ platforms, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Tactics being examined include substantially increasing subscription fees for those that leave, charging steep exit fees and allegedly making its Office 365 products incompatible with rival clouds, they added.

The FTC is yet to formally request documents or other information from Microsoft as part of the inquiry, the people said.

A move to challenge Microsoft’s cloud business practices would mark the latest broadside against Big Tech by the FTC’s chair Lina Khan, who has centred her tenure on aggressively curbing the monopolistic powers of the likes of Meta and Amazon.

Khan, who has become the public enemy for most of Wall Street’s dealmaking community, is set to be replaced after president-elect Donald Trump enters the White House next year.

While any successor to Khan may not adopt as tough a stance, potential contenders are expected to continue targeting Big Tech companies which have attracted bipartisan ire in Washington. The Republican party has accused online platforms of allegedly censoring conservative voices.

The decision to launch a formal probe would come after the FTC sought feedback from industry participants and the public on cloud computing providers’ business practices. The results in November last year revealed that most responses raised concerns around competition, the agency said at the time, including software licensing practices that curb the ability to use some software in other cloud providers’ ecosystems.

The FTC also highlighted fees charged on users transferring data out of certain cloud systems and minimum spend contracts, which offer discounts to companies in return for a set level of spending.  

Microsoft has also attracted scrutiny from international regulators over similar matters. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority is investigating Microsoft and Amazon after its fellow watchdog Ofcom found that customers complained about being “locked in” to a single provider, which offers discounts for exclusivity and charge high “egress fees” to leave. 

In the EU, Microsoft has avoided a formal probe into its cloud business after agreeing a multimillion-dollar deal with a group of rival cloud providers in July.

The FTC in 2022 sued to block Microsoft’s $75bn acquisition of video game maker Activision Blizzard over concerns the deal would harm competitors to its Xbox consoles and cloud-gaming business. A federal court shot down an attempt by the FTC to block it, which is being appealed. A revised version of the deal in the meantime closed last year following its clearance by the UK’s CMA.

Since its inception 20 years ago, cloud infrastructure and services has grown to become one of the most lucrative business lines for Big Tech as companies outsource their data storage and computing online. More recently, this has been turbocharged by demand for processing power to train and run artificial intelligence models.

Spending on cloud services soared to $561bn in 2023 with market researcher Gartner forecasting it will grow to $675bn this year and $825bn in 2025. Microsoft has about a 20 per cent market share over the global cloud market, trailing leader Amazon Web Services that has 31 per cent, but almost double the size of Google Cloud at 12 per cent.

There is fierce rivalry between the trio and smaller providers. Last month, Microsoft accused Google of running “shadow campaigns” seeking to undermine its position with regulators by secretly bankrolling hostile lobbying groups.

Microsoft also alleged that Google tried to derail its settlement with EU cloud providers by offering them $500mn in cash and credit to reject its deal and continue pursuing litigation.

The FTC and Microsoft declined to comment.